Homeland Security chief says Congress should "shut up and support" Trump efforts to slow illegal immigration

After almost three months of stepped up enforcement under President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Tuesday that new efforts to stem the flow of illegal immigration into the United States are quickly paying off, as he said lawmakers in Congress who don't like the enforcement changes by the Trump Administration should change the laws, or "shut up."

"If lawmakers do not the laws that we enforce, that we are charged to enforce, that we are sworn to enforce, then they should have the courage and the skill to change those laws," Kelly said in a speech at George Washington University.

"Otherwise," Kelly said of lawmakers, "they should shut up and support the men and women on the front lines."

In his speech, Kelly cited figures that show a steep drop in the number of people trying to ilegally cross the southern border of the United States.

"March apprehensions were 30 percent lower than February, and 64 percent lower than this time last year," Kelly said in a speech at George Washington University in D.C.

"These numbers are lower because we've shown we are serious about border security, and enforcing our immigration laws," the DHS chief added.

Kelly noted a large drop in the number of families trying to make the crossing into the United States.

"While more than 16,000 family units were apprehended at the border in December, only 1100 were apprehended in March," Kelly told his audience.

"This is a phenomenal drop in movement," Kelly said.

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Jamie Dupree